It seems like every home is equipped with smart appliances nowadays. Nearly half of millennials use smart home products regularly. If you don’t have any smart home features in your house, you’re missing out on convenience and savings on your energy bills.
Adding just a few smart appliances can add value to your home. To learn what makes a home appliance “smart” and which smart home features you should add to your home, keep reading.
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What Are Smart Home Features?
What even makes an appliance or home feature smart? Usually, appliances are labeled “Smart” when they can connect to your wifi network or you are able to control them from your smartphone.
You may be wondering, “what’s the point of controlling my home appliances from my phone?” It all comes down to convenience, which can lead to big savings on your energy bill.
1Smart Climate Control
One of the first smart upgrades you should make to your home is installing a Smart climate control panel. Most Americans could be saving upwards of hundreds of dollars on their electric bill each year if they switched over to a smart thermostat.
A smart climate control panel or thermostat allows you to program when you are home and when you are out of the house. This, in turn, saves you money; You aren’t wasting energy on keeping your house at a comfortable temperature when you’re out.
Many brands produce smart thermostats, such as Google smart home features and Honeywell. You can even adjust the thermostat remotely using an app for added convenience.
The thermostats themselves are relatively easy to install. Most just involve you turning off your HVAC system, popping off your existing thermostat plate, and connecting the new, smart thermostat to your wifi.
2Solar Panels
Another upgrade to consider for your home is solar installation.
Solar panels are smart in a few ways. To start, they are environmentally smart. Solar energy is a more sustainable form of energy. One solar panel system is said to offset 175 tons of carbon dioxide in its lifespan.
Second, solar panels are financially smart. Energy prices will continue to go up, and you can avoid a rising energy bill by investing in solar panels. Plus, many states have tax incentives for houses with solar panels.
Lastly, a lot of modern solar panels allow you to monitor your energy usage from your phone. This will help you be mindful of your energy usage.
3Smart Door Lock
One smart upgrade that’s on the rise is a smart door lock.
Ever worry about whether or not you locked your door on your way out of the house? Smart door locks can ease your anxieties, allowing you to check your door lock from your smartphone and even lock it when you are away.
Have someone coming over to walk your dog? You can easily let them in, even when you’re not home. Some smart door locks even have built-in cameras, so you can see who is outside through the built-in app.
Try Out These Smart Home Features
Installing any of these smart home features will add value to your home. The best part is that most of these are affordable, convenient, and will save you money on your energy bill.
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